KACK IN KAIKOURA

We  are on the first stay of a three day trip from Christchurch to Wellington. So far it has been fabulous to spend some time with mum and dad in their faithful steel steed - their motorhome known as Bugsys Burrow.  We stopped at Waipara Springs  winery for a stellar coffee and bought a couple of bottles of wine  and then stopped in Cheviot and had a noisy in a fabulous antique shop. Then we looked into a lovely gallery and struck up a conversation to find in ten seconds  flat that we found an acquaintance we had in common. This seems to be a national sport for Kiwis. Work out with a stranger someone you both know in the shortest time possible. With well travelled parents and a chirpy and inquiring old man - its a daily occurrence.  Now we are not too precious about where we stay on out trips and it makes it easier if its a camping ground with a power site for ma and pa and a cabin for me - that way we can stay together.  Their motor home is cosy for 2 but cramped for 3. So our first night park  up is in a place called the A1 Motel in Kaikoura. Its a place probably built in the 70's and its bloody tired.  Now we dont really mind tired but we dont abide grubby and this one is grubby.  It was $30 for the power site for ma and pa and $70 for my room.
We have with us some precious cargo - a mate who owns a lobster exporting company gave us over a dozen cray tails for xmas.  so a fridge is good. I unpacked them and put them in the fridges freezer and as i closed the door it fell off. Landed on my toe..  it hurt. but i could not help laughing.  the sheets are clean but the toilet would be a great centrepiece in a horror movie of the genesis of some alien life form.
So we wont be back. But like all good holidays the bad experiences are all part of the trip.  This morning we are off to cruise around Blenheim. A mate has offered us a cuppa tea and some fresh xmas baking.  And then Sunday sees us in Picton for the big crossing on BlueBridge.

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!

Yip the whale chasers won. Well done Kaikoura... and of course Wally.

The whale-watching company won the supreme prize at the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards last night after taking top honours in the "best in a marine environment" category.

The awards are part of World Responsible Tourism Day at the World Travel Market in London.

However we still believe that its a nations right to hunt them as well. As long as the harvest is sustainable.

SOLOMON THREATENS HIS OWN PEOPLE

We have had a few threatening emails over the Ngai Tahu controversy. We have had them before and they dont scare us much.

However we think that this email below, which has been sent to all runanga ( the local councils) by some in the Solomon family in Kaikoura, who are distressed at the ousting of Wally Stone, shows that Mark Solomon is not the man to lead Ngai Tahu.The Solomons are a proud, wonderful family but as I have said before, sometime the blood thins through the generations.

Anyway here is the letter that has been sent throughout the Ngai Tahu rohe ( area) which will give some insight into the threatening behaviour and perhaps the intellect of Mark Solomon.



Kia ora Ngai Tahu Whanui

It is with saddness that my sister Hariata Manawatu and I (Martin Solomon) find ourselves having to address the serious break down in communication between our Runanga Chair Thomas Kahu and kaiwhakahaere Mark Solomon who are both our nephews.

Mark's nomination to contest the position of kaiwhakahaere was supported by myself because my brother Wiremu Solomon who was then Upoko would not.

In the past we have had exceptional leadership in my father (Rangi Solomon) and brother (Wiremu Solomon) they were men of mana and humility. Through there labour we acquired land to build our marae, and an economic base through Whalewatch which is now a tourism icon.

The language used by our Kaikoura rununga representative, and Te Rununga o Ngai Tahu kaiwhakahaere in communicating with our runanga chairman, Thomas Kahu, and our executive, is not a reflection of these men of mana.

Below is an example of what I believe is the inappropriate language from Mark, an email that I and Hariata, have read as a result of concerns raised by rununga members and whanau.

"That's alright taina. You resist. Let's see what happens. You are an incompetent fool who rushed to defend stone befor engaging his brain. Look around fool how many in the whanau support him. Everyone I have spoken to despises him. you can Reap the dividend. Know this taina"

Mark

Taina, as expressed by the kaiwhakahaere above, has become to him a derogatory term implying a sense of being worthless to the person or people to whom he has directed it.

Tuakana is a role of responsibiity, it is about encouraging, empowering,supporting. It's about being inclusive not exclusive "taina are not mokai to tuakana".

The tone of this email is totally unacceptable. It falls well short of how we speak to each other as whanau, and if this is the leadership style supported and exercised by tront members, then we as a peopl are in serious trouble.
Our tront table has been divided for the last 3 years. The events of the past week are the last straw and I call for our representative on tront to resign. We believe it is time for change, and we will put forward a more appropriate delegate in the coming weeks.

Martin Solomon

We read this with sadness but no surprise.
There is also an iwi wide petition circulating calling for Solomon to step down.

NGAI TAHU - ANOTHER OPINION

I am an advocate of good debate and good debate requires the airing of both sides of any argument.

Now there is a blog that is running a counter line to Roarprawn, about just what is wrong with Ngai Tahu.

It is called Ngai Tahu Shareholders and its penned by Richard Parata. Click Here for the link

I don't agree with much of what Richard says but I believe that for Ngai Tahu to make the right decisions that they need to see all facts and opinions.

Our people need to examine all the information they can get and frankly I have never been a fan of the way TRONT, the governing board has kept most of the information at the table. It is not healthy and has bred the mistrust we see in play now.

I remain disgusted at what has transpired and it is because of the extremely high regard that Wally is held in Wellingtons business and political circles. The same cannot be said for Mark.

Great leaders know that when they do not have the trust and respect of the people then their time has passed.

I think that time has come for Mark. Richard Parata has a different view.

Richard does however point to a high level of dysfunctionality at the top level. He is right and the only way that is going to be put right is for the leader to step aside. Solomon cannot look back on the last few years with any measure of pride. There are many many good people who work tirelessly for Ngai Tahu and they simply deserve a better leader.